Apparatus for lubrication of steam-engines.



A. M. MILLE. APPARATUS FOR LUBRIGATION OP STEAM ENGINES.

A-PLIOATION FILED JUNE 29, 1907.

Patented May 16 4 SEEETEPSHEET 1.

A. M. MILLE.

APPARATUS FOR LUBRIGATION 0F STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1907. W'ims Patented 111111111911.

:SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. M. MILLE. vAPPABLXTHS FOB. LUBRIGATION 0F STEAM ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 29, 1907.

992,229. Patented May`16,21911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3. 6 5

82 Fig.

l A. M. MILLE. APPARATUS PoE LUBEIGATION 0E STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1907. 992,229.`

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ANTOINE' MILTID'E MILLE, 0F LE.HAVRE,. FRANCE.

APPARA'rUs For. Li'manica:rIoN or' STEAM-ENGINES.

To may concern: l

Beit known that I, ANTOINE MILTIADE MILLE, of the city of Le Havre, in the Re- Whole installation. o

sary, 'a device can be combined with each public of France, have invented new anduseful Improvements Iin Apparatus' for Lubrication of Steam-Engines, vwhich invention is fully set forth in' the following specification.

' This invention relates to means of'lubrication'in which the supply is uniform, capable of being regulated as desired, and in Which'the 'properties of the Siphon-are applied for' insuring uniform supply. In this arrangement it is not necessary to trouble about insuring uniformity of level in the lubricant feedingreceptacle which is the object that most similar lubricant feeding receptacles are intended to effect and which 1s difficult to realize.- It is onlynecessary to' see to the filling of the oil-tank, which is placed in direct communication with the feedingreceptacle, in order to insure absolute uniformity of supply throughout the Moreover, when neces receptacle which will automatically feed the quantity of oil that is conveyed from the reservoir by which 'all `the feeding recep` tacles are supplied. 30

partly yin vertical section, showing in combination the feed receptacle, distributing vessel, and the oil reservoir; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the feed receptacle and oil reservoir shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the distributing vessel with parts broken away to show the interior conf struction; Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3; .Fig 5 1s a transverse sectional v1ew on line II-II of Fig. 3'; Fig..6 is a sectional elevation of a modification showing a feeding receptacle furnished with an automatic feed. Fig. 7 shows on'a larger scale the details of the mechanism by which theentrance of the oil into the feedingAreceptacle shown as 'a modifcationinFig. 6 is regulated. Finally Fig. 8 is a sectional view, likewise on an enlarged scale, of the Siphon shownin Fig. 6.

As will be seen fromvthe drawings, the lubricant -feedi 'receptacle is connected With'a large `tan 1 to which it is fixed by brackets 2, 2. On the tank 1, according to the sizeof the machine, one or more cylindrical feeding receptacles 3 are fixed by means of v.the brackets.v These receptacles communicate with the tankby means of the S1 .\eciication of Letters Patent.` Appncauonmea J'un'e 29.1907. serial No. 381,563.

Figure 1 1s a vlew partly inilelevation and Patented. May l1e, 1911.l

cock 4." In the receptacle-3 a float 5 .moves on guides 6 6,'a tube- 7 on the float, running through a stuffing box 8l into a glass tube 9,

protected by the incasing t'ube10. On the.

upper part ofthe float is a-bracket 11l supporting the milled nut 12. A screw-threaded tube 13 on which the Siphon 14 is fixed i by means of the -union 15 is screwed into the nut 12, and enables the height of the Siphon to be varied, that is to lsay the difference of I level between the orifice in the lon' leg of the siphon and the surface of the liquid in the receptaclek in which the short legis im- A mersed. The long leg of the Siphon 14 terminates in a plug 16 similar to' plug75 of Fig. 8 and the short leg lodges in the rose pipe 17 secured tothe Abottom of theiioa-t. A ring or washer 18' prevents foreign sub-v stances from entering pipe '17. In the lower part of the receptacle 3 is a hollow leg 19 for the reception of the' tube 17 when 'the float is in its ylowest position..

The lower partof the tube 10 terminates in a two-way cock 20 whichenables theloil supplied by the Siphon to be conveyedeither u through the union 21 to' the distributing vessel or through the gage cock 22.

At is an auxiliary oil-.cock,\ the utility v of wh1ch will beV explained hereinafter. The

gage glass 24 alwaysindicates' the height of the oil in the receptacleand finally the`- cover 25,- drilled with' air holes 26, 26,`com.

pletes 'the apparatus. The distributing vessel illustrated in Figs.

is protected by the incasing tube 31. The i upper partl of the tube 31 terminates ina 9o 3, 4 and 5" consists of the body 27 which is cock 32 which meetsthe feed pipe 33, that `runs from the junction 21 illustrated inFig.

1. The Siphon tubes 35, pass through cover 28 and are securelylield/therein byv means; vof packing joints 34.

The short legs of. the'v siplions35 run through the cover and draw the oil from ,a common well 36. 'The long legs of the si- :lootv Y phons are screw threaded at their ends to connect with couplings 37 and pass through lugs 38v onl which the names of the corresponding parts' to be lubricatedn arejinscribed. Intothe sockets 37 are screwed interchangeable plugs 39'with bores of suitable diameter for the passage ofthe desired lio l quantity of lubricant.j At 40 isa check screw which.at the same time enables additional lubrication to be effected by means of an orifice 41. The bracket 42 attached to the bottom of the vessel supports funnels 43, from which the pipes 44 run which convey the oil to t-he various 'parts to be lubricated. The air pipe 45 insures the working of the siphons and the brackets 46 serve for fixing ythe apparatus on suitable supports.

The action of the apparatus is as follows :-It begins with the priming of the siphons of the feed receptacles. For this purpose the tank l and the receptacle 3, placed in communication with this tank having been filled, the float 5 is manually forced downward or caused to plunge so as to cover the upper part of the Siphon 14, which is previously furnished with aA plug 16 corresponding to the lquantity of lubricant to be delivered by the distributing vessel which is supplied therefrom; Afterppassing through the rose or perforated pipe 17 the oil enters the siphon 14 and flows into the tube 7, passing through the cock` 20- into the distribut ing vessel. The Siphon having thus been primed the {ioat is allowed to ascend again. It is desirable to mention here a phenomenon which contributes to the priming of. the siphon. The cock 20 having been closed, the oil fills the glass-tube 9 and the tube. 7 of the float. If at this moment' the cock 20 be opened the passage or way in the cock being large enough to allow the oil in the tube 9 to flowaway quickly, a partial vacuum is createdv in the tube 7, which forces the oil to rise in the- Siphon and consequently effects the complete priming of the Siphon. It is moreover easy to ascertain whether the quantity delivered by the Siphon corresponds to the delivery of the gage or number (the plugs being given different designating numbers according to the size of their delivery openings) of the particular plug 16 in use, by collecting the oil in a measuring vessel for a few minutes through the gagecock 22.` The priming of the Siphon having been effected, .the questiom of priming the siphons of the distributing cups has to be considered. This priming 'is effected automatically. All that is necessary is to cause the oil to rise until it over-flows the air-pipe, 45. The outlet opening in this latter pipe being situated above the lsiphons 35, the siphonS will be charged. 'However it is advisable, for the purpose of completely forcing out the air contained in the siphons, to unscrew the check screw 40 or even to remove the plugs 39 for a short time. WVhen the prim? ing of the siphons has been duly effected, the plugs are fastened tightly, the cock 32 closed and the apparatus is primed ready forworking. The charging of the siphonsihaving been thus assured, the means by which the apparatus can be precisely regulated `cant delivered bythe Siphon.

`which may be given designating numbers,

say from 1 to 22,'according to the sizes of their delivery openings and corresponding to the exact delivery of 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, etc., up to 1000 ygrams per hour. A series of plugs such as 16 for the Siphons ofthe fioats 5, may be similarly numbered from 1 to 10 and corresponding to the exact delivery-of 1 to 10 kilos per hour. By adding up the designating numbers of the plugs of .a distributing vessel the corresponding designating number of plug 16 for the feed-Siphon is ascertained. This theoretical method .of regulating may-be verified experimentally in the following manner The level being held at half way of the sight tube 30, the oil delivered by all the siphons of a distributing vessel 27 is collected in a suitable vessel for ive minutes. By means of the nozzle 22 it is ascertained whether during the same lapse of time the feed-Siphon delivers the same quantity of oil.4 If these quantities are not exactly equal the delivery of the-feed-siphon 14 is regulated by raising or lowering this Siphon by means of the milled nut 12, thereby increasing or decreasing the difference of level between the orifice of the long leg of the Siphon and the surface of the liquid in the receptacle, and correspondingly varying the quantity of lubri-l The delivery of the feed-Siphon can thus be varied in the ratio of 1 to 12 by an adjustment of from 1 to l2 centimeters. The apparatus being thus once regulated, all thatisnecessary for setting it in operation is to'unscrew the plugs 39 of the distributing vessels, and to Open the cocks 32. The apparatus then i works in a perfectly regular manner.

In order to stop the lubrication, the plugs 39 are screwed up tightly, the cocks 32' closed, and the apparatus remains charged ready for working again. The present arrangement moreover enables additional lubricant to be fed to any movement separately or to one or more parts. In fact, the normal working-level ofthe (ilistributingcups, to which the delivery indicated by the number on the plugs correspond is two centimeters above the cover of the cup and is indicated by a mark seen on the gage pipe 30.-

vIn order to feed additional lubricant to any movement, for example at start-ing, the milled nut 12 of the feed Siphon 14 is not touched but the level in the cups is raised by conveying atcertain quantity of additional oil through the cock 23. As soon as the machine is found to work properly, the supple# mental-y cock 23 is closed and the level in the cups will become normalv .again auto-y mat'ically." y

In order to increase the momentary lubrinished at the end .of its short leg with a'well 74, made of wire-:gauzey and at the end of its long legwith a removable plug 75 which has a central bore and carries in lts upper part a small tube 76 likewise made of wire gauze.

For each apparatus a series of plugs is pro'- vided the openings in which are of diii'erent size, corresponding to varied deliveries. The upper part of the siphon is provided with a bell 77 for the priming. In order to enable the Siphon to be placed and fixed in the reis formed 'with an opening 79 on the edges ceptacle 48,' lthe receptacle is provided with 'afiange havinga cover 78 .which can be easily removed. For the reception of the shortleg ofthe Siphon and its well the float of which the coverl 80 of the said well'rests.

' The apparatus may be fixed on a board by l meansoffour lugs 81.

4The yaction of the lubricating vessel isY as l follows: In proportion as-the level of the oil from the atmosphere into the small reservoir is lowered inthe receptacle 48 the ioat piston with the lSiphon 73 vis likewise lowered. During this descending movement the valve through which the oil enters is closed as shown in the drawing and allows air to pass 59 through 'an orifice '82. When the float 47 has nearly reached the bottom of the receptacle l48'that-is to Say, when nearly-,all the oil vcontained in this receptacle is used up, the Said .float presses against the lstop 55, consequently lowering the rod ,53 and oscillating the bent l/ever 72. The lever `pressing -against the springv69 causes the stud 70 to leave its hole 71 and they sector being no longer retained rotates-around its shaft un- 'der the. action of the Spiralspring 68 and 'the'valve is opened, allowing the oil to pass which rapidly fills the pipe 58 and the small reservoir 59. The lower face of the i'oat 47 is 4subjected 'at this moment, toa pressure I q on the lcorresponding to thedifference of le'vel existing between the oil supply tankand .the

Isaid face. The Apistonthen rises until its upper face presses against the` stop 56 fixed rod 54. .The rod 54 in rising causes ythevrais'ing of the rod 67 which rotates the sectory around its shaft, notwithstanding'the reverse action of the, spiral -spring 68, this movement continuing until the stud 70 of ithe spring 69 meets the hole 71 andloeks the valve. which atthis movement has reached .its v'fully closed position. In this position the communication lbetween the lubricating cup Aandthe oil rsupply tank `is interrupted,

the small reservoir 59 is Iagain put in eommunication with the atmosphere through the level of the oil in i orificel 82Y and the iioat again' beginsto descend, in thefmanneralready indicated.

The apparatus working normally, the the graduated glass' .60 must be invariable.' Ifth-rough-any cause Whatever this level be Alo'vfere'd or raised om'thef normal height the Siphon 73 is ref v moved fromI ythe, receptacle through the opening formed in the cover of this part, and the plug 75 isvrplaced' by 'another the opening vin which has ajdiameter better suited to thec'onsumption of oil of the part on which the lubricating cupis placed. i

What I claim is: v ,j 1. In a lubricating apparatus, the combinationof a receptacle from 'which lubri-` cating liquid is tobe 4fed, a ioat, movable up and dow-n in said receptacle to follow changes in the level of the liquid, and a Siphon for feeding oil from said receptacle, Said Siphon being supported by and movable 'with said float, the short leg of said Siphon 'opening into said receptacle and provided with a filter, the 'long leg arranged to deliver through thebottom of the receptacle.

' '2. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receptacle from which vlubrieating liquid is `tovbe fed, a float movable 'up and down in said yreceptacle to follow ehanges in the level of the liquid, Aa Siphonfor feeding oil from said receptacle Said Siphon being supported by and movable with said iioat with the open end of its short leg in position to be immersed inv-fthe liquid, and a tube depending from the oat and movable in an opening lthrough the bottom of the receptacle and into which tube the long legof the Siphon discharges.

3. In a lubricating apparatus, the. com- A bination of a' receptacle from vwhich lubril eating liquid -is to be fed, afloat movable up and down lin 'said'receptaele to follow changes in the level of the liquid, a Siphon for feeding oil vfrom said receptacle said Siphon being supported v by and movable with said float vwith. the open' end of'its short leg in, position to be immersed in the liquid, and'- means for adjustingthe lsipholr on the float to vary the difference of..` level between the open end of the long'leg of the'siphon and the surface of the lubricant in the'reeeptacle. u 4. In a lubricating' apparatus, vthe combination of a receptacle from whi'chf*l'l'ibril-v eating liquid is` to beI fed, a float movable up and down in said receptacle to follow chan for' eeding oilfronisaid receptacle said Siphon being supported by and movable with said Afloat with the open' end of its short 'leg in position to be immersed in the liquid,

es in the level lof the liquid, a Siphon and its long leg discharging into a passagey for conducting the lubricant away from the apparatus,- and a supplementary feed con" Sisting of a valve-controlled passage leading from.k the botto'inof'the receptacle into said first-named passage. v

5.-The combination with lubricant 'feeding apparatuslsuch as herein described, of

a distributing vessel supplied from said feed- 4ingapparat'us, said distributing vessel being provided with a plurality of 'Siphonsnfor conducting, oil ,I therefrom, the delivery end* lthe normal level.

cation of a part, the screw 4() is removed from the coulping 37 and an additional quantity of oil passes through the orifice 4l.

If-the supplementary lubrication through one of the siphons 35 is only to last a very short time, itis unnecessary to supply a'dditional oil by means of the cock 23. The level lowers a few millimeters in the vessel 28, this additional quantity of oil being taken' at the expense of the ot-her siphons which during this space of time deliver a little less without any inconvenience. If the supplementary lubrication is to continue the plug of the particular siphon 35 is replaced by another of larger feeding capacity, the operation requiring a few -seconds at the utmost, and the Siphon 14 of the float is lowered `slightly by means of the milled nut 12.

From the foregoing the advantages of this system and apparatus will be easily understood.

As the distributing vessel always receives the same quantity of oil, and the temperature increases, Athe siphons deliver a larger quantity of oil, and the level in the vessel sinks, but in sinking this level diminishes the delivery of the siphons and a moment comes when the delivery of the distributing vessel is equal to the quantity of oil that it receives from the feed-receptacle; the level then remains stationary at a few centimeters below The contrary occurs if the teni erature falls.- After a certain time, the leve is restablished at a few centime-- ters above the normal level. It is the same as regards the viscosity of the oil. If the oil used is heavy, the level will be above the normal mark; if the oil is light the contrary will take place. The quantity delivered by the plugs 1s regu-lated for oil havin movementsof ordinary viscosity and at t ie tem perature of 25 degrees.

The only condition necessary for the proper workingof the device is the arrangement of the "tank in a place in the machine which is not exposed to too frequent changes of temperature. This condition can be easily complied with in modern machines in which the upper part of the cylinder Hoor is free. Nevertheless athermometer indicating at every instant the temperature of the oil in the tank is placed well in view, so as to enable the delivery of the feed-cylinders to Vbe regulated if the change be a preciable.

' Moreover when the quantity of oi -necessary for the proper working of the machine y1s once regulated,

day if this quantity is duly delivered by collecting the oil for a few minutes by means of a gage cock 22. 4

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6-8 the principle is absolutely the same; with the exception of a few constructional details and 'the device for automaticall7 fill?L itis easy to ascertain every ing the cup. In regardI to its action the lubricating vessel consistsV of three principal parts. First. A cylindrical receptacle, with a float, intended to contain a certain quantity of oil in reserve', the level of this latter fall ing in proportion as the oil is consumed` Secondly. A regulating device which aus tomatically effects the illing of the receptacle mentioned by actingon the oil inlet. This device consists substantially of a valve the opening and the `closing of which are effected by the oat of the receptacle, accordingly as the level of the oil 1n the said. receptacle has reached' its highest or lowest limit.

Thirdly. An apparatus for regulating the delivery of the oil from the receptacle mentioned through a siphon furnished with aremovable plug having an orifice the diam eter of which corresponds to ,the delivery desired, into a gage tube, and then into the tube that supplies the lubricating cup of the part to be lubricated.

The iloat 47 which is movable in the cylindrical receptacle 48, is fixed toa tube 49,

guided by 'the stuing box '50 and follows the variations of level of the oil 51. It is provided with an opening for the passage of a tube 52 in which are located the rods 53 and 54 furnished with stops 55 and 56 and controlling the opening and the closing of the cock 57 through which the oil enters. The cylindricalreceptacle 48 communicates through the tube 58 .with a small reserNoir 59 ixed on the top of the tube. Attached to the bottom of the receptacle 48 is a graduated glass tube or gage tube 60, protected by a lantern tube 61 which terminates at its lower end in a junction or union 62 which is joined to the tube that leads to the distributing cup of the part to be lubricated. The valve 57 ofthe regulating device is in communication `on the one hand with the small reservoir 59 and on the other hand with the pipe 63 containing the oil under pressure coming from the tank which is common to several machines or at least to several parts of machines to kbe lubricated. The lever of the said valve consists of a sector 64 extended on one side by a rod G5 with equilibrating counter-weights, and on the other side by a lug 66. On this lug is a pivotally connected rod 67 which is'likewise pivotally connected with the rod 54 and a recoil spring G8. Another spring 69 fixed by one of its ends to the cover of the! receptacleIv 48, that bears' against the sector 64,

eeaaae f With a removable plug having a delivery opening the size of which determines the 'quantityof lubricant passing from the vessel through that particular-Siphon.

6. rlhe coinbination With lubricant feedingv apparatussuch as herein described, of a distributing vessel supplied from said feeding apparatus, said distributing 'vessel being provided with'a plurality lof Siphons for conducting oil therefrom, 'the delivery end of the long leg ofeach Siphon being provided Withv a removable plug having a delivery opening the size of which determines the quantity of lubrioant passing from the Vessel through that particular Siphon, and

means for increasing the delivery of lubricant through each plug comprising a lateral feed orifice inthe plug and check-screw.

7. In a lubricating apparatus, the conl-y bination of an oil receptacle having apocket in its bottom Wall, a float in said receptacle, I

a Siphon supported by said float the short leg of which opens into saidl receptacle and is adapted to be received by said pocket, the long leg of saidsiphon delivering' through the bottom-of said'reeeptacle.

In testimony Whereofl have slgned this' specification in the presence oftvvo subscribing Witnesses. t

ANTOINE MILTIADE Witnesses:

Louis DOMINIQUE CAsALoUP, DEAN B.- MASON.

Minimi. 

